Can the sound of a shot be used to judge if the shot is a foul or not?

Sometimes the sound of a shot can indicate a double hit or secondary contact with the side of the shaft; but, in general, sound is not a reliable indicator of a foul. Many things affect the sound of a shot, including tip type and hardness, the type and condition of the ferrule, joint type and tightness, shaft material and stiffness, cue elevation, and other sounds in the environment. Judging a shot based on the sound is particularly problematic in a noisy environment, especially if there are many people playing at once on surrounding tables.

Here are some good examples showing how shot sound is a very poor indicator of a possible foul:

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